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Mid-Hants : End of Southern Steam Galas

Author/Source:

Nigel Musker

Editors Notes:

To mark the "End of Southern Steam" 50 years ago on 9th July 1967, the Mid-Hants "Watercress Line" arranged a series of five days of events in which locomotive types which were there at the very end worked over the railway. The line itself saw intensive use 50 years ago as a diversion route whilst the Bournemouth Main Line was electrified. There were five visiting locomotives so we start our coverage at Ropley shed on the first day, 1st July 2017 as the star of the show, Salisbury shed's pride and joy, no. 35006 "Peninsular & Oriental S N Co" comes off shed to work its first train away from its modern home on the Gloucester & Warwickshire Railway. As it does so, the Mid-Hants' own recently-overhauled and immaculate Standard class 4 Mogul no. 76017, an Eastleigh and, later, Salisbury engine all its working life, leaves for Alton.

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